The Three Monkeys, a Carter A. Johnson & Kate Menke Thriller Read online

  With a vacant look, he ignored her protestations and walked away. While humming a classical tune off-key, he set about making preparations for the annihilation of his confined enemies. He'd never held a high level of respect for women. These two deserved less than most. He stared at the limestone wall as he tried to determine what to do next. His mind felt sluggish; it was difficult to remain focused. So many emotions pulled at his senses. Where was Johnny when he needed help? Why must he do everything himself? He turned his attention to Anastasia. She would be his next victim. Anastasia stared at him harshly from against the cold, stone wall. The stare he returned exuded hate and distrust. In one final act, he would get even with her and be rid of her spying ways forever.

  Carter dialed Captain Davis's number at her office. Kate's phone had lost the signal and ended the call. Davis's phone rang four times, then kicked over to voice mail. He left a long rambling message about Kate's plight at the Peltier home. The Beemer flashed past the Highway 70/270 exits. He was still fifteen minutes from downtown St. Louis. In the heavy early evening traffic, he often reduced speed to under seventy MPH. Frustrated, he phoned Lt. Altmon. The call rolled over to the answering function. He left a message then tried Capt. Davis again. Still no answer.

  Without Johnny to assist, Paul knew he couldn't manhandle either woman by himself unless they were unconscious. From a wall cabinet, he procured a spring powered dart pistol. In another cabinet, he located a selection of darts containing the knockout drug Xylazine commonly used by veterinarians. He guessed Anastasia to weigh about one hundred thirty pounds and Kate Menke's weight about the same or maybe ten pounds less. Paul reviewed the drug chart and selected the appropriate dart that would knock them out for only ten to fifteen minutes. He wanted them awake for their execution and didn't want to wait all night. If he chose wrong, they could each be incapacitated for several hours.

  Anastasia glared at him as he walked to her cage. She stood defiantly straight and tall at the back of the cell. She was determined to face her fate with strength and righteousness. Master Paul would undoubtedly be pleased if she begged and cowered. She would not give him that satisfaction. She had been intimidated and humiliated for the last time by him. Off to her right, she saw Kate's eyes were open as she made an effort to rise.

  Carefully, he inserted the dart into the gun and drew back the lever to cock the gun.

  A sharp pain jolted Anastasia's attention back to her antagonist as she cried out. Paul watched her with a sulking pout. A dart protruded from her right thigh. With a sudden movement, she grasped the dart and pulled it from her leg. In one swift movement, she flung it through the bars and watched it hit his chest and fall to the floor.

  Kate yelled, "You bastard, leave her alone! The police are on their way."

  Seconds later, Anastasia's vision blurred and she felt woozy. She sat on the floor and leaned back against the wall. For several long minutes, she drifted from awareness to slumbering. Her eyes blinked and she slobbered uncontrollably. A short time later, she vaguely heard Kate speak her name, and then she fell sideways and descended into darkness and silence.

  Paul's back was to Kate as she pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. The reception showed one bar. The thick stone walls of the subterranean basement blocked the signal.

  Carter saw the Gateway Arch in the distance to his right across the Mississippi River as he weaved around slower moving traffic. In two minutes, he would enter St. Louis. He phoned Lt. Altmon again. The phone was answered on the third ring. He hurriedly explained the situation at the Peltier home until the lieutenant cut him off. "Captain Davis and a squad of officers are preparing to leave for the Peltier home as we speak. Your secretary phoned her about ten minutes ago to request assistance."

  Carter filled him in on what he'd heard on Kate's phone transmission then ended the conversation as he crossed the river. The Beemer's tires squalled through the exit to downtown onto Highway 70 South until he slowed for backed up traffic.

  Minutes later, he double parked next to Kate's Escalade. The Beemer's flashers pulsed as he slammed the door and locked the car. A fast jog took him to the Peltier home's entrance. As expected, the entry doors were locked. The brass knocker banged loudly several times before he left the stoop and ran to the side of the house.

  Paul was satisfied Anastasia had succumbed to the dart's narcotic. Kate received a dour look as he entered Anastasia's cage while Kate continued a screaming tirade against him. Anastasia didn't respond when he harshly kicked her thigh. His forearms slipped under her shoulders before his hands locked together across her breast. With difficulty, the geriatric dragged her from the holding cell toward the stainless steel table.

  While stripping Anastasia's clothing from her comatose form, he couldn't help but appreciate how well she had fared over the years. She was still a fine-looking woman. Desire surged in him as he recalled the ways he had used her as a common whore. He pushed his sexual appetite aside. There was punishment to be administered to the ungrateful spy.

  The first-floor windows were too high above the ground for Carter to even see inside the rooms. At the outside basement entrance, painted wood doors set on a steep angle covered steps going below ground. A heavy padlock and steel hasp secured both doors. He walked up the angled doors and peered in a window above them. The window was locked and wouldn't budge. Carter turned his back to the house and used a sport coat covered elbow to smash the glass. His arm shot inside and he strained as his fingers forcefully twisted the old sash lock to the open position. He banged on the wooden sash to loosen it and used his pocket knife to cut through the seal of many layers of paint. It took several mighty heaves to raise the lower window three inches. Both hands gripped the bottom of the window and his muscles strained as he pulled upwards. The old window shrieked against dry wood as it slid up far enough for him to crawl through. The Glock was in hand as his feet touched the tile in the morning room.

  Roughly, Paul manhandled Anastasia's naked body and worked her torso up and onto the table. She began to slide across the other side until he gripped her legs and pulled her back. He spun her form ninety degrees, rolled her onto her back and straightened her legs in line with the table. As he applied and tightened the restraining straps, her hands twitched and her eyes opened and closed slightly several times before closing as she again relaxed. He'd wait. He wanted her fully awake and aware as he administered her long overdue punishment. He moved to her head and installed and adjusted the skull restraint.

  Kate continued to rebuke him as he worked. "The police will be here any minute. If you kill her, you will be put to death yourself. Stop this foolishness now. What in the world do you have against her that dictates this horrible method of death?"

  Paul worked single-mindedly as he tried to ignore Kate's screaming tirade. He redirected his thoughts as his mind wandered. A headache grew more painful as the blonde's denunciation of him increased in volume.

  Carter found Kate's purse and its contents on the foyer table. Her Beretta was missing. In the butler's pantry, a butcher knife lay on the floor. No blood was on the blade. A destroyed cell phone lay on the floor. He finished clearing the first floor, then raced up the ornate wood stairway to the second floor. All the bedrooms were empty. Two shoulder blows opened a locked door to reveal a narrow, enclosed staircase to the third floor. It directed him up to another closed door in the dimly lit space. Forcefully, he kicked the door open. A litany of stored items was stacked around the huge space. In the dim light, he determined the area had not been used in years. A thin layer of dust on the floor had not been disturbed recently.

  Carter ran down to the first floor. Only the basement remained to be checked. In hindsight, he regretted not going there first.

  Paul smiled grimly as Anastasia opened her eyes and attempted to move her arms and legs. Tears dribbled from her eyes and she moaned. He held a hammer and a length of rebar for her to see. Turning to Kate, he said, "What do I harbor against Anastasia you asked? She has been most unloyal to
me. For many years, she has spied on my actions. Now she must pay a price for her less that supportive behavior. I've not applied the ballgag so you can hear her screams of fear and pain. While you share her pain, realize that, because of your meddling, you will suffer the same fate as soon as I finish dealing with her."

  Carter found the door to the basement ajar. Lights glowed down the stone steps to the concrete floor below. Halfway down, a pair of blue high-heeled shoes lay on two steps. He rushed ahead. Cautiously, he examined each of four rooms along a wide hallway. A solid oak door at the end of the hall was locked. Listening intently, he heard muted voices behind the door. With the Glock in his right hand, he reared back and aimed a mighty kick beside the lockset. The door creaked and cracked but didn't open. A second kick shattered the old door frame. The door slab flung back, hit the wall and bounced back to slam his left shoulder as he plunged into the room.

  He saw Kate in a cell with her hands gripping the steel rods that imprisoned her. Everyone had gone silent. Paul Peltier stood beside Anastasia's naked body strapped to a shiny metal table. A heavy hammer was tightly gripped in his left hand and a length of metal rod was held his right hand. Paul stood transfixed staring at Carter. He surreptitiously moved the rebar and placed it tightly against Anastasia's left eye.

  She squealed and pleaded for mercy. "Please, Mr. Paul. I never spy on you. Stop!"

  Paul smiled as he slowly moved the hammer back to gain momentum when it was swung. "You're too late to save her, Mr. Johnson. She must pay a price for spying on me all these years, thus the eye is targeted."

  "I won't allow that to happen. You'll be dead before you can swing the hammer. Now drop the hammer and the rod and raise your hands. I'm placing you under arrest for –

  Paul shouted, "NO!" His left bicep flexed as his arm rotated further back, and his glare hardened. He turned his head to focus on the end of the steel rebar rod.

  Carter fired one round from the .45 caliber Glock at Paul's left shoulder. The noise was harsh and earsplitting. Paul screamed, staggered, dropped the hammer and the steel rod, and collapsed to his knees beside the table. He grunted loudly and gripped his shattered shoulder as blood poured from the wound.

  Carter took a step forward as Kate yelled a warning, pointed, and stared wide-eyed. He turned his head toward the left just as he was tackled from behind. Johnny wrestled Carter to the floor. The men thrashed on the cold concrete, each seeking an advantage. Neither had a weight advantage. Carter's strength and hand-to-hand combat training prevailed, giving him the upper hand. In the background, he heard Louie Louie growl over the warnings of Kate and the wailing of Anastasia.

  Louie Louie snarled as he leaped at Carter's throat with his fangs exposed; Carter raised the Glock and fired once as the canine’s body contacted the Glock. The bullet hit the dog's chest in mid-stride and Carter's outstretched arm stopped the animal. The dog fell hard to the concrete and lay whimpering. Carter flung his head backward into Johnny's face and heard him grunt as his grip loosened.

  Paul rose unsteadily to his feet, grasped the hammer in his right hand, and staggered erratically toward Carter. Hate blazed from his fanatical scowl. He swung the hammer as Carter flung his head sideways. The hammer delivered a glancing blow to the side of Carter's head and slid along his left temple. Carter fell backward, dazed, uncoordinated and bleeding from a throbbing laceration.

  Panting and in pain, Paul dropped to his knees, slowly forcing his right arm back to deliver a crushing blow to Carter's dazed head. A satanical grin disfigured his face as he anticipated ending the conflict with his nemesis.

  Johnny heard his name screamed by Kate. He recognized her and saw Anastasia strapped to the killing table. He realized his grandfather was about to murder both of the women. Both of his friends. In a desperate move, he dove at Paul and knocked him sideways. Johnny rolled and momentum carried him to the rough stone wall. He rolled onto his knees as his forearm slid across a sharp-edged stone and tore open a long, jagged gash. He ignored the blood flowing from his arm and avoided the melee of Carter and Paul. Gently he picked Louie Louie up from the floor, cradled the whimpering canine close to his chest, and ran out the door.

  Carter shook his head to clear the fog, recovered his wits, and rolled toward Paul. Flopping on top of the wounded man, he held him to the floor, then rolled him over to put plastic restraints on Paul's wrist. Paul cried out in agony as his injured left arm was forced to meet his right arm. After stopping the demented old fool in the act of killing Anastasia, Carter showed him no mercy and didn't care how much pain he caused. There was a loud noise from the main house.

  Carter stood and listened. Multiple voices drifted along the outside hallway signaling that the police had arrived. Knowing the drill, he placed his handgun on the table next to Anastasia’s thigh and raised both arms. Seconds later, two swat team members in protective gear entered the room with automatic weapons, sweeping the room in search of targets.

  Captain Davis entered the room with her handgun extended in front of her in a firing stance. Bewildered, she gazed at the unholy sight confronting her. Anastasia's naked body strapped to the table with her head forcibly secured left no doubt of what vile act Peltier intended to perform. She saw Paul's shoulder wound, smiled for brief seconds as she called for the ambulance crew waiting outside to respond.

  Kate drew Carter's attention and told him which pocket Paul put the cell key in. He retrieved the key and two handguns before he released her from the cage. They embraced briefly before running to Anastasia. Kate removed the straps holding her steadfast while Carter removed the diabolical contraption immobilizing her head. Kate stood next to Paul looking down at him as he lay on his right side. She delivered two vicious kicks to his stomach before being restrained by a Swat Team officer.

  Two EMTs in white uniforms arrived with a gurney. Within minutes Paul Peltier was stabilized, extracted from the house and then rushed with siren screaming to a hospital for surgery. A patrol car followed for an officer to stand guard during Paul's operation and later at his room.

  Kate was shaken but livid. She cursed Paul in great detail for what he had put her and Anastasia through knowing his ultimate intention was to kill them violently. Behind those feelings, she was pleased that she and Carter had been correct in their suspicions of Paul being the murderer they were searching for. Casting thoughts of Paul aside, she retrieved Anastasia's clothing from where they’d been tossed on a chair and helped her dress.

  Lt. Altmon arrived and Captain Davis directed him to request a warrant to search the entire Peltier home, outbuildings, and autos, especially the room in the basement where Anastasia and Kate were forcibly held. She studied the equipment in the killing room and muttered aloud, "My God, who would have ever dreamed that suave, articulate, old man was such a crazy monster?"

  Captain Davis spoke above the din of the milling police officers. "Listen up, everyone…clear this room. Becker and Meeks, take the first watch outside the door. Around the clock coverage. No one in until we have a valid search warrant and the Crime Scene Lab Crew is on site. Move it." She called for another ambulance as she strode across the room to the cells where Carter, Kate, and Anastasia huddled. She pointed to Anastasia but spoke to the trio. "I want this lady taken to the hospital for a complete examination: physical and mental conditions. When she's released, she’ll be taken to headquarters to give a statement. Ms. Menke, do you need to see a doctor?"

  Kate replied, "No, I am fine. But Carter needs that cut on his temple attended to. It's still bleeding." Carter removed a towel held against his head for the ladies to see the wound. Pointedly he said to Kate, “You need to go to the hospital, you could have a concussion after being hit with that gun butt.”

  Capt. Davis looked closely at Carter. "Mr. Johnson, you'll be escorted to the hospital to have that injury looked at. I think you'll need stitches. A patrolman will take you there and then take you to headquarters where you'll give your statement as to what the hell happened down here. Ms. Menke, a sep
arate patrol car will take you to the hospital for examination. I'll meet you later at headquarters and take your statement. Let's clear this room and go to our respective places. Please don't talk to each other until after you've each given your statements."

  Kate was escorted from the emergency room to the police station and gave her statement. Harlee Davis's attention piqued when Kate told of Paul's statement of having killed several people with his revolver. Afterward, Kate contacted Deline, per Davis's request, and directed her to go to the police station to also be interviewed.

  At the same time the Crime Scene Lab Crew started their inspection of the Peltier mansion, Carter arrived at the police station after darkness had set in to be interviewed by Lt. Altmon. Carter remembered hearing Kate mention Paul’s handgun while he listened to her phone transmission. He asked Altmon about it and learned it was a .38 caliber. He suggested Lt. Altmon inquire if any shots were fired at the Bateman home in Seattle during the abduction. Lt. Altmon nodded and said he would check with the Seattle police. During a break in the interrogation, Carter dialed Agent Masinelli’s cellphone and brought him up to speed on the Three Monkeys case and the details leading to the arrest of Paul D. Peltier.

  Near midnight, after their statements were taken, Kate spoke to Anastasia. "After what you have been through, I want to extend an invitation for you to spend a few days with me and Carter. We have plenty of room and you really should not be alone. We'll be available if you need to talk about what we have all been subjected to because of Paul Peltier's demonic actions."

  Anastasia pursed her lips as she thought for several seconds then nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Menke. I appreciate your gracious offer and accept your invitation. I look forward to spending time with you. I do need someone to bounce my feelings off. I watched Mr. Peltier change over the last few years, but I never suspected he would attempt to murder me…or anyone else for that matter." As Kate hugged her tightly, Anastasia said, "I am so glad it is ended…but now I fear for what Johnny's involvement has likely done to him."